Backyard Chickens in Elkhart, Indiana

Can you keep chickens in Elkhart?

Thinking about backyard hens in Elkhart, Indiana? Unfortunately, the city's animal ordinance currently classifies chickens as farm animals and prohibits keeping them anywhere within Elkhart's corporate limits. Read on to understand exactly what the code says, why it applies, and what options exist for aspiring chicken keepers in the area.

Not straightforward

No. Under the City of Elkhart Code of Ordinances, keeping chickens (and most other poultry) is currently prohibited within the city's corporate limits. Section 90.04 defines a FARM ANIMAL to expressly include "chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys" and other fowl (§ 90.04). Section 90.06(A) then states that, except as otherwise provided, "no person shall own, possess, maintain, or harbor on any property within the corporate boundaries of the city any farm animals" (§ 90.06). The only carve-out is for a licensed veterinarian providing medical treatment to a farm animal on property where that activity is permitted by the zoning ordinance (§ 90.06(B)). Local news coverage has confirmed that it is "illegal for anyone to raise chickens within the city limits" of Elkhart, and a 2016 city council effort to draft a permit-based exception for backyard chickens did not result in a change to the current code.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Restricted
How many hens: Not Allowed
Roosters: No
Permit required: No
Permit cost: Not specified
Setback from property line: Not specified

Peggy knows Elkhart

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Because chickens are classified as farm animals and banned city-wide, there are no coop, run, or setback rules for residential chicken-keeping in Elkhart — the animal itself is prohibited before any coop rules would apply (§ 90.06). The single exception in the code is for a licensed veterinarian providing medical treatment to a farm animal on appropriately zoned property (§ 90.06(B)). Residents wanting to keep chickens legally would generally need at least three contiguous acres in unincorporated Elkhart County, where poultry is regulated as livestock, or must advocate for a change to the city ordinance (as was informally discussed by the City Council in 2016 but never adopted into the current code).

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Elkhart

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 6a

Elkhart sits in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a, with winter lows commonly reaching -10°F to -5°F, and experiences a full four-season humid continental climate typical of north-central Indiana. Cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers mean that any future coop design in the area would need solid winter insulation/ventilation balance and summer shade/airflow considerations.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxCoyoteOpossum

Even though backyard chickens are not currently legal within Elkhart's city limits, residents keeping poultry on qualifying county acreage should be aware that raccoons, hawks, foxes, coyotes, and opossums are all active in the area and are common threats to unsecured flocks. Sturdy, secured coop construction with hardware cloth and buried perimeter fencing is generally recommended wherever poultry is kept in this region.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Not applicable — backyard chickens are currently prohibited within Elkhart city limits. For residents on qualifying county acreage where poultry is legally kept as livestock, cold-hardy dual-purpose breeds such as Plymouth Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, Wyandottes, and Orpingtons are typically well-suited to Elkhart's zone 6a winters.

Our package comes with two Rhode Island Reds – hardy in heat and cold, and friendly with kids.

Questions people ask about Elkhart

▸Can I legally keep chickens in my backyard in Elkhart, Indiana?

No. Elkhart's municipal code defines chickens as farm animals and bans possessing or harboring farm animals anywhere within the city's corporate limits (§ 90.04, § 90.06).

▸Is there any exception that lets someone keep chickens in the city?

The only exception in the ordinance is for a licensed veterinarian providing medical treatment to a farm animal on property where the activity is allowed by the zoning ordinance (§ 90.06(B)). There is no general residential exception for egg-laying hens.

▸Did Elkhart ever consider allowing backyard chickens?

Yes. In 2016, the Elkhart City Council discussed drafting an ordinance — modeled on neighboring Goshen's program — that would have allowed residents to keep chickens with a special permit. However, that proposal was not incorporated into the current code, which still bans chickens city-wide.

▸Can I keep chickens if I live in Elkhart County but outside city limits?

Possibly. Elkhart County generally treats chickens as livestock, and county guidance has cited a requirement of roughly three contiguous acres to keep livestock outside city limits. Contact the Elkhart County Planning & Development department to confirm current requirements for your specific parcel.

▸What happens if I keep chickens in Elkhart anyway?

The ordinance authorizes the city's animal control officer, humane officer, or police to impound and dispose of any farm animals — including chickens — found within city limits (§ 90.06(A)), and violations are subject to penalty under § 90.99.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Elkhart or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 18, 2026.